Election Day Voter Registration in Nebraska

We have analyzed the likely impact on voter turnout should Nebraska adopt Election Day Registration (EDR). Under the system proposed in Nebraska, eligible voters who miss the 18-day deadline for registering by mail may be able to register to vote on Election Day. Availability of Election Day Registration (EDR) procedures should give voters who have not previously registered the opportunity to vote. Consistent with existing research on the impact of EDR in the other states that use this process, we find that EDR would likely lead to substantial increases in voter turnout. Thisreport presents the following estimates of increases in turnout for Nebraska, and for specific groups of Nebraska citizens under EDR. Overall turnout could go up by 5.4 percent. Turnout among those aged 18 to 25 could increase by 10.6 percent. Turnout for those who have moved in the last six months could increase by 9.5 percent. Turnout for Latinos could increase by 9.0 percent Turnout for African Americans could increase by 6.0 percent. Turnout among poor and middle-income citizens could increase by 8.1 and 6.4 percent, respectively, while turnout among the wealthiest citizens would likely increase by 3.7 percent

Same Day Voter Registration in North Carolina

R. Michael Alvarez of the California Institute of Technology and Jonathan Nagler of NYU analyze the likely impact of Election Day Registration on voter turnout in North Carolina

Election Day Voter Registration in Vermont

We have analyzed the likely impact on voter turnout should Vermont adopt Election Day Registration (EDR). Under the system proposed in Vermont, eligible voters who miss the current six-day deadline for registering by mail may be able to register to vote on Election Day. The availability of Election Day Registration procedures should give voters who have not previously registered the opportunity to vote. Consistent with existing research on the impact of EDR in the other states that use this process, we find that EDR would likely lead to substantial increases in voter turnout. We offer the following voter turnout estimates for Vermont under EDR: Overall turnout could go up by 4.8 percentTurnout among those aged 18 to 25 could increase by 10.2 percent.Turnout for those who have moved in the last six months could increase by 8.6 percent. Turnout among the poorest citizens could increase by 6.1 percent, while turnout among the wealthiest citizens would likely increase by only 3.3 percent

Stochastic labour market shocks, labour market programmes, and human capital formation: a theoretical and empirical analysis

This paper develops a life-cycle model of labour supply that captures endogenous human capital formation allowing for individual’s heterogeneous responses to stochastic labour market shocks. The shocks determines conditions in the labour market and sort individuals into three labour market regimes; employment, unemployment with and unemployment without participation in labour market programmes. The structural model entails time independent stochastic shocks that have transitory effects on monetary returns while the effect on human capital formation may be permanent. The permanent effect may justify the existence of active labour market programmes if these programmes imply non-depreciating human capital and human capital depreciation is detected for the non-participant unemployed. Using several years of the Swiss Labour Force Survey (SAKE, 1991 – 2004) the empirical section compares the dynamic formation of human capital between labour market regimes. The results are consistent with the assumptions of the structural model and suggest human capital depreciation for unemployment without programme participation. They further show that labour programmes may act as a buffer to reduce human capital loss while unemployed.Human capital formation, life-cycle labour supply models, active labour market policies, search activities, productivity shocks, unemployment

Making Voting Easier: Election Day Registration in New York

As policymakers, election officials, and the public consider whether New York should change the way in which voters are allowed to register to participate in elections, and bring New York State election law into compliance with the Help America Vote Act, the following report provides an analysis of the potential impact of election day registration (EDR) in New York. EDR in New York has the potential to increase voter participation for New Yorkers by as much as: Over 12 percentage point increase in turnout by 18-to-25-year-olds. Nearly 10 percentage point increase in turnout by thosewith a grade school education or less.An 11 point increase in turnout by Latinos and nearly 9 percentage point increase in turnout by African Americans.Over 10 percentage point increase in turnout by those who have lived at their current address for less than six months.Over 12 percentage point increase in turnout by naturalized citizens